Here’s your first big casting news of 2011. Neill Blomkamp‘s second feature Elysium already has Matt Damon set for the lead and District 9 star Sharlto Copley set to appear as well. Now the director and Media Rights Captial have locked Jodie Foster to play a character that has yet to be revealed.

In fact, aside from the cast, we know next to nothing about Elysium. Based on brief remarks made over the past months we can surmise that it will be similar in tone to District 9 — that is, a science fiction film that has an element of social and/or political awareness. As I’ve done in the past I’ll use this space to recap statements made by Mr. Blomkamp in the past year as he’s talked cautiously about the film. The director is coming off a real success with District 9 — a success that is all the more dramatic for being unexpected — so there is high interest in his new film.

…I’ve got one science fiction idea that I’m absolutely in love with, which I’m pretty sure is going to be my next film. 99% sure…It’s totally original, it’s my own story…It’s set on another planet, but it’s cool. It’s violent, very violent, and very unique hopefully. We’ll see.

…It is science fiction and it has many sociopolitical ideas that interest me. Those ideas are wrapped up inside something that is like a Hollywood action film…The setting for the next film takes place 150 years from now. There are two cities that I’m choosing between. They would play as themselves. They are not in South Africa.

…Hopefully, this will be a bit unique, very much a reflection of me. It is absolutely another science fiction film, quite different from District 9, but some of the blending of genres and the tone might be within the same realm.